Out of bounds? Columnist calls on Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to shave 'terrorist' beard
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Published:
March 12, 2018
Updated:
March 12, 2018 12:15 PM EDT
Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah chases the ball during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on March 3, 2018.LINDSEY PARNABY / AFP/Getty Images
CAIRO — An Egyptian columnist has ignited a firestorm on social media by calling on Liverpool’s star forward Mohamed Salah to shave his beard, saying he looks like a “terrorist.”
In an article published Sunday by the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram, Salah Montaser said Salah should shave his beard as it “puts him in one basket with extremists…. and terrorists.”
Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah participates in a training session prior to the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen second leg football match between Liverpool and FC Porto, at Melwood Training Ground in Liverpool, north west England on March 5, 2018. ANTHONY DEVLIN/AFP/Getty Images
Fans criticized the article on social media, saying facial hair is a personal choice and that people shouldn’t be judged on their appearance.
Salah is the Premier League’s joint-top scorer, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane, with 24 goals this season. He is on one of the best scoring sprees in Europe’s big five leagues right now.
Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah warms up ahead of English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on March 10, 2018. OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images
He is a huge celebrity in his native Egypt, which is struggling to combat an Islamic State-led insurgency.Out of bounds? Columnist calls on Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to shave ‘terrorist’ beard | Toronto Sun